November Master

Study/Learn & Know/Understand

1 - Research Horace Mann; Robert Hutchins; Mortimer Adler and John Dewey
2 - Journal in your commonplace book the following on each one:
          - What each of these men about education and which of the educational
                   principles (from journeyman) they honored.
          - At least 5 things that each of these men did to influence American public education.
          - Were their ideas good or bad for education?
          - Are their ideas still being used today?  Is that good or bad?

You may use the following links in your research:

Horace Mann

Horace Mann
 From Biography.com, Horace Mann’s 6 educational principles which can be compared to the educational principles list.
 This is extracts from the Common School Journal by Mann published 1891.
 Thoughts, a collection of ideas on education by Horace Mann published 1917.

John Dewey

John Dewey
 “My Pedagogic Creed” by John Dewey.   This is pretty short and is one of his most important writings.
 “Moral Principles in Education” by Dewey.

Robert Hutchins

Robert Hutchins

 Highly recommended for learning about Robert Hutchins: The Higher Learning in America published by Transaction Publishers has an introduction by Harry S. Ashmore which discusses the Hutchins-Dewey debates on education in the early 1930’s. You could purchase it or get it from the library. Read the Introduction and the last chapter “The Higher Learning.” You’ll find many great ideas there pertaining to principles and morality in education.
 Listen to this Mike Wallace interview of Hutchins.
 An article on the Hutchins-Dewey debates, compare this author’s conclusions to what you have learned about these two men.

Mortimer Adler

Mortimer Adler
 Since you’ve already read several articles by Adler, it might be a good idea to look over the Great Books of the Western World set either in your home if you own it or at a local library. Adler is responsible for all 102 articles in the Syntopicon on each of the “great ideas” discussed throughout the set.
 Here’s a funny video of Adler talking about what a bad idea it is to speed read.
 There are many interviews with Adler on YouTube that you can watch.





Become/Serve

• What do the scriptures tell us about education.  Find 5 scriptures about education and copy them in your commonplace book.  Ponder on them and then journal your thoughts.